Boys Basketball: Methacton edges Souderton

Methacton's Matt Forrest ,21, puts up a shot over Souderton's Brendan Wagner ,35, during second half action of their playoff contest at Methacton High School on Tuesday February 19,2013. Photo by Mark C Psoras\The Reporter

WORCESTER — The Methacton gym was packed to the ceiling for the second round of the Class AAAA District One playoff game against Souderton. There was screaming and clapping, booing and cheers. There were whistles and horns – everything expected from a playoff atmosphere. Adrenaline and determination played a big role with a state playoff berth in the balance. Composure was paramount.

After the Warriors missed their first foul shot, they refocused and made the following 15 attempts, including 10 in the final quarter, helping them edge the Indians 54-45 on Tuesday. The Warriors will travel to Great Valley for the quarterfinals. The Indians will host Central Bucks South (60-57 overtime loss to Great Valley) in a playback game on Friday.

“We got down and our guys hung in there,” Warriors coach Jeff Derstine said. “We emphasized playing four quarters and we were able to make enough plays down the stretch.”

The 11th seeded Indians held a 37-31 advantage heading into the fourth quarter behind the sensational shooting of senior John Kanas. After missing his first two shots on the night, the guard drained the next five. Kanas hit six three-pointers and had 24 points after threes quarter.

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“We beat them earlier and we knew they wanted to get back at us,” Kanas said. “They played packed-in defense and I wanted them respect our shot. They got some questionable charge calls. It is frustrating. I don’t know what else to say.”

As Kanas watched the Warriors rally back with an 8-0 run, a few whistles uncharacteristically got under his skin. An offensive charge call on the Indians’ Brendan Wagner was made worse with the first technical foul call on Kanas. After Matt Forrest hit both his foul shots the Warriors led 37-35 and never looked back. Kanas picked up a second technical foul a few minutes later and was done for the night and the final five minutes of the game. The senior’s ejection will force his to miss Friday’s game against the Titans.

“We lost our composure,” Indians coach Pete Chimera said. “There was a chain of events that were out of our control. We were doing great, running our stuff, and it seems like the big turnaround was the offensive foul on Wagner.”

The Indians have not played without Kanas on the floor often this season, but had to do so in the biggest game of the season. Senior Dan O’Hara came off the bench and a three-point play brought the Indians back within one point, but that was as close as it came. The Indians shot 3-for-11 in the final quarter. Behind Kanas in scoring was Wagner, who finished with nine points three rebounds.

“I thought Brendan did a nice job,” Chimera said. “Without Kanas we drew up things for Brendan and things for Austin (Murphy). We tried to get them going, but Methacton did nice a job. We have to figure it out quick because Friday we have to play without him.”

Wagner battled foul trouble all game, as he was given the task of shutting down the Warriors’ leading scorer, senior Brendan Casper. Casper scored six points early and 10 in the final quarter and finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Warriors did enough defensively to find a way to make the continuous momentum shifts stop in their favor. There is nothing the Warriors have not seen yet, and that is what has them excited moving forward.

“Our kids chip away,” Derstine said. “Dillan Aldefer came in and gave us huge spark with loose balls and rebounds. It inspired our guys and fired us up. The fourth quarter got crazy, but we stayed composed and made plays. I was proud of our guys.”